Tips for visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial with kids

Posted By Allison on Apr 16, 2012

This post may contain affiliate and sponsored links. We donate 10% of our sales commissions to charity.

Welcome!

We have all seen a million photos and movies and replicas and even parodies of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. For that reason, I did not expect to be as awestruck as I was when I finally stood in front of it.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is spectacular. It is an impressive feat of art and engineering set in one of the most beautiful parts of our nation. It stirred feelings of patriotism and reverence in me to a degree that I did not expect.

After leaving the parking area, visitors enter a wide long plaza with a view of Mount Rushmore at the end. A display of flags from every U.S. state flanks both sides of the plaza. Lots of seating can be found just past the gift shop for viewing the monument, or the stage and amphitheater below. Stairs on each side of the plaza lead to the amphitheater.

A loop trail allows visitors to get a closer look at Mount Rushmore. Expect lots of stairs and some distance – about half a mile – but most visitors should not have much trouble with this trail. On the trail, enjoy the scenery and watch for wildlife. A hands-on Native American exhibit and an artist’s studio can also be found along the way. At the artist’s studio, see the finished product that Mount Rushmore’s sculptor originally intended. There was a working artist talking with visitors on the June day we visited.

The ranger desk and visitor center are located below the plaza. We stopped there to get free Junior Ranger information for our children. The Junior Ranger activities helped our children learn about the history, nature and wildlife in the area. When they completed the required number of activities, they took the books back to the ranger who quizzed them on the activities and swore them in as junior rangers. They received a plastic gold Mount Rushmore badge.

Visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial can also find an ice cream shop, a cafe and a large gift shop, which was my daughter’s favorite part of our visit. We visited Mount Rushmore twice during our stay and were there for a couple of hours each time.

When to Go

Mount Rushmore National Monument and most of its amenities are open year-round. It is located in a mountainous area where the road twists and turns and changes elevation frequently. I assume the road is well maintained in the winter, but warmer months are obviously the most popular times to visit.

We visited during the first week of June and it was warm one day and chilly on another. We shared the monument with many other visitors, but not so many that we could not enjoy our stay and get some good photos. This monument is built for crowds.

An evening lighting ceremony is held each night in mid-May through late September. We did not attend this, but I expect that it is a special experience.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial was the highlight of our Black Hills vacation. It is an artistic and engineering feat celebrating four of the United States’ great leaders. Don’t miss an opportunity to see it.

Good to know

Where: Just outside the tourist town of Keystone, South Dakota and about 20 miles from Rapid City.

When: Year-round, but many attractions and visitor services are only open from May-September.

How Much: No charge to enter the monument, but parking is $11 per vehicle. (Updated April 2015) National parks passes do not cover this parking fee. At the time we visited, the parking fee was good for 7 days.

How else can we help?

Need a place to stay? We stayed at Howard Johnson Rapid City, but there are many good options in Rapid City and elsewhere in the Black Hills. Check rates and read reviews at TripAdvisor or Booking.com.

Thanks for the info. I am hoping to make a fall colors trip out to South Dakota this fall and plan to spend a little bit of time at Mt. Rushmore. Did you see the Crazy Horse Memorial while you were out there? I just think the engineering for Mt. Rushmore is just remarkable.

My wife and I are looking for a nice vacation and I had mention to her about Mt. Rushmore.
We would have to make it a week vacation because we live in central Connecticut and will be driving out that way. It really looks like a really nice place to visit. We are both in our early 60s and I walk with a cane to help me walk. Thank You for all your info on Mt. Rushmore.

Omaha, Nebraska or Sioux City, Iowa are both about halfway in between Rapid City, South Dakota and Branson, Missouri. Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific recommendations, but they should both have a lot of good lodging options.

We will be heading to Mt. Rushmore Labor day weekend. We are looking for a place to camp and atv near there? Any suggestions. Would love to be able to set up camp then drive truck to Mt. Rushmore, Then be able to atv somewhere close by.

I have not visited during Thanksgiving. According to Weather.com, it looks like the weather is cool and a little warmer than average this year. The roads will be paved, and presumably well maintained, but the terrain is mountainous, so beware of rain and snow. The monument is open year round, but hours and services will be reduced. Check the official website for details. Some local services and attractions may be closed for the season. It will be a great time to enjoy Mount Rushmore without the crowds!

As Seen On

Amazon Affiliates Disclosure

Tips for Family Trips LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.